Broadway Revitalization Plan Would Ban Cars In Historic Downtown LA Corridor

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Any night of the week, the Broadway corridor in downtown Los Angeles is humming with activity as people head out to a venue or grab a bit to eat, and ditching the car could become even more common.

"I walk in, I go into the shops, I do what I have to do, and then I go home," Dorca Laguer, a visitor, said. "It's a wonderful thing to do."

City councilman Jose Huizar called for the city to study the possibility of making Broadway a car-free zone between 1st and 12th streets in downtown.

"As long as it doesn't cause to much traffic, I'm up for it, you know," Garrett Wang, a pedestrian said. "As long as it makes it easy for us to get up and down the city."

The proposal is part of the "Bringing Back Broadway" plan, which has already improved the walking experience downtown by widening sidewalks and adding landscaping and lighting to the area.

The next step would be to eliminate vehicular traffic and only allow people who walk, bike or use public transportation in the Broadway corridor, with a goal of revitalizing the historic area while also reducing carbon emissions.

And while some people liked the idea, others were a bit skeptical about the plans, saying they didn't feel comfortable ditching their rides due to the ongoing homeless crisis.

"There's a bigger issue when it comes to homelessness and just safety in general," one person said. "I wouldn't recommend being alone. Have a buddy."

Though most people agreed that they would like to see the historic culture of the corridor — listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as the birthplace of theatrical and cinematic entertainment in Los Angeles — preserved.